JAMMU
AND KASHMIR COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY
COMMEMORATES 20th APRIL AS KASHMIR
SOLIDARITY DAY
Srinagar,
Apr 20: Peace activists from India and
abroad on 20th April in a seminar
organized by the JKCCS called upon both the
governments to honor the rights of
self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
Hailing
from different states across the country, all
had gathered here under the banner of Jammu and
Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), to
mark the death anniversary of the human right
activist Aasia Jeelani who died during election
monitoring in a landmine explosion in Kupwara
district on April 20, 2004.
In memory
of all those who lost their lives, their
dignity, people who got disappeared and those
who continue to be suffering, in the past 15
years of the movement for self-determination,
the JKCCS has commemorated 20th April
as a day of solidarity to all those sufferings
introduced by the security forces against a
movement that raised the democratic demand that
the people of Jammu and Kashmir are the
principal party to the dispute and their wishes
have to be ascertained for solution to emerge
and be considered legitimate.
Talking on
the occasion all the eminent speakers emphasized
the role of Kashmiri people as prime party in
the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Mr. Imroz
president of JKCCS on the occasion asserted that
only peaceful democratic solution is to
acknowledge the inalienable right of the people
of J&K i.e. the right of self- determination and
demanded to repeal the draconian laws, lifting
of section 144 of the CrPC, constitution of
independent enquiry commission, abiding
International humanitarian laws and support of
world community.
Paying
homage to the martyrs of Kashmiri struggle early
on the 20th April morning, all
activists vowed to lend their support for the
movement. It was followed by a daylong seminar
and Candle light vigil as a tribute to all
sufferers of violence.
The draft
position passed at the end of “solidarity day”
said: “ while we condemn any infraction of
rules of war by the conflicting parties we would
be remiss if we do not understand it in its
social and historical context. Violence didn’t
enter Indian held territory of Jammu and Kashmir
in 1988-89 when armed militants emerged.
Violence has been used by the Indian state since
1947 to deny the people what was pledged to
them.
“Let us
recall that hundreds of people lost their lives
on August 9,1953 subsequent history highlights
how the Indian government through manipulation
and machination rode roughshod over every
peaceful political manifestation including
fighting elections, which attempted to force the
Indian government to live up to its promises”
“Each of
these political movements,” the draft said were
suppressed, outlawed or simply ignored. Through
out these five decades Indian army maintained
heavy presence and laws were enacted to jail
people without charge or to prosecute leaders on
flimsy ground to destroy the struggle. It was
then that some took to arms. But for Indian
government violence would not have entered the
state. Therefore, while we do not condone every
act by militant groups it would be wrong if the
main cause of violence on people of Jammu and
Kashmir by the Indian government is not
recognized.”
The
position paper says, “It was decision of the
Indian government to suppress a movement
brutally, instead of addressing the assertion of
the demand for the right to self- determination
that took violence to a new height”.
“Fact of
the matter is that cities and villages remain
under siege by Indian armed forces whose numbers
have remained very high,” the paper said,
describing the acknowledgement of inalienable
rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir (right
to self- determination) as only peaceful
democratic solution.
The human
rights groups demanded repeal of public safety
act and withdrawal of Armed Forces Special
Powers act and “other draconian laws”. They also
demanded right of democratic dissent and
constitution of independent inquiry commission
to look into enforced disappearances rapes
custodial executions, torture and other human
rights abuses.
The
participants from India were Citizens Initiative
for peace, all India people’s resistance forum;
committee of relatives of martyrs Andhra pradesh,
peoples union for democratic rights, New Delhi
and Pakistan India people’s forum for democracy
(West Bengal chapter). Some “solidarity Day”
commenced with the activists visit to martyrs
graveyard at Eidgah where they paid homage to
the people who died in the past 15 years of
conflict.
The
activists expressed solidarity with the people
of Jammu and Kashmir and supported the right of
self-determination of the people.
Padama
Kumari of Committee of relatives of Martyrs
Andhra Pradesh (AP) who has lost her husband in
a “fake encounter “ in Andhra Pradesh and was
jailed for five years, said: on this day 1981,
13 tribal people were killed in AP while
demanding their right. We observe this day as
solidarity day with those killed. We observe
this day as solidarity day with those killed.
And I should have been there. But I preferred to
be in Kashmir just to tell people here we are
with you in struggle”.
Others
speakers including Varvara Roa, Karolina,
Nawkrin Singh, Main Abdul Qayoom. Pervaz Imroz
Gurmeet Singh, Sampat Prakash, Dr Altaf and
Zahir-ud-din expressed their views about the
Kashmir issue.
Many
lawyers, Journalists, students, doctors and
human right activists were present on the
occasion. The day concluded with the visitors
forming a human chain and lighting candles,
which they said was a tribute to the people of
Kashmir, which have been the victims of
oppression and suppression.
Different
individuals, groups and institutions from all
across the world expressed their solidarity for
the cause. In their letters of solidarity,
Amnesty International Wageningen, Netherlands,
Helsinki citizens assembly Vanadzor office,
Amnesty International London, Asian federation
against involuntary disappearances (AFAD),
FEDEFAM, Humanist committee on Human rights (HOM)
Netherlands, Mumbai Civil society groups and
individuals, Nilo Valerio foundation, Gender
Concerns International, IKV Netherlands, Peace
Movement Aotearoa, New Zealand, South Asian
Peoples Forum Srilanka, Civil Initiative Belarus
all expressed their commonality to the Kashmir
cause and to all those sufferers of injustice
and inhumanity.
